What to expect at CES 2015: 4K TVs, Broadwell chips, and the smart home

03 Jan 2015

"GoMore, which is being marketed as a “stamina sensor” that helps calibrate workout intensity."

Wearables: Here we go again

It would be much too generous to say wearables are “growing up” this year, but clearly the consumer tech industry is advancing and expanding the definition of what a wearable can be. At this year’s CES, expect a new generation of much more niche and mission-specific wearables—perhaps a reaction to the fact that activity trackers have become ho-hum commodity hardware; that Android Wear and Apple Watch have sucked all the oxygen out of the smartwatch space; and that all current-generation wearables are still struggling to find a receptive audience.

Among the highly specialized flights of fancy we anticipate seeing, a new wearable called Thync promises to alters one’s mood, using “enhanced neurosignaling” to shift one’s “vibe” to either an energized or relaxed state. Fuhu, meanwhile, is planning to demo a “child-friendly, gamified” pedometer, while Sensoria Fitness will show off new “smart socks” that help track cadence and center-of-balance while you run. We should also see Vert, a wearable that tracks your jumping stats (perfect for volleyball and basketball training); GoMore, which is being marketed as a “stamina sensor” that helps calibrate workout intensity; and Linx, a new head concussion monitor that could be great for anyone who competes in impact sports.

And those are just the niche players. We’re already hearing that a number of much bigger-name companies will have wearable-tech announcements. The question is: Will they stick to traditional formulas like the conventional activity trackers, or will they go big with innovative risks?